Department for Transport

Local Sustainable Transport Fund

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the amount of the revenue element of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund in (1) 2014–15, and (2) 2015–16.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: In 2014-15, £64.9m revenue funding was provided through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. A further £64.5m was provided in 2015-16.

Local Sustainable Transport Fund

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the expected amount of the revenue element of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund in (1) 2016–17, (2) 2017–18, and (3) 2018–19.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The recent Spending Round settlement included a new ‘Access’ fund for sustainable travel, building on the legacy of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and supporting growth in cycling and walking.

Railways: Franchises

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many officials in the Department for Transport were working as part of the team dealing with rail franchising in 2014–15 and 2015–16.

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many officials in the Department for Transport are expected to be working as part of the rail franchising team in 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The information is not held in the format requested. Staff working in franchising sit in Passenger Services, with other staff carrying out much wider roles.The number of people (permanent and temporary) working in Passenger Services as at 31st March 2015 was 221.The number as of 1st December 2015 is 235.Our forecast requirements for future years are as follows:2016/17 246.25 Full-Time Equivalents2017/18 246.25 Full-Time Equivalents2018/19 234.25 Full-Time Equivalents

Road Traffic Control

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance, if any, they give to local authorities and London boroughs about conducting consultations with neighbouring authorities or boroughs before making an Experimental Traffic Management Order.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not issued any guidance that specifically advises how consultation should be carried out with neighboring authorities or boroughs before making an Experimental Traffic Management Order.However, under regulation 6 of the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure)(England and Wales) Regulations 1996, before making an experimental order, traffic authorities are obliged to consult other authorities where the order relates to, or might affect traffic on, a road for which another authority is the highway authority or the traffic authority.

Euston Station: Lifts

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whose responsibility it is to ensure the safety of lifts at Euston railway station; and what information they have about when those lifts were last inspected; and whether they will publish a report about lift safety at that station.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Network Rail is the relevant safety duty holder with responsibility for ensuring that risks are controlled so far as reasonably practicable on its infrastructure and the stations it manages.The Department does not hold information about when the lifts at Euston railway station were last inspected and operational issues such as these are a matter for Network Rail with oversight from the Office of Rail and Road in its role as the independent railway safety regulator.

London-Exeter Railway Line

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to announce plans before 2020 to replace the single track railway lines between Salisbury and Exeter with double track railway lines in order to further promote economic growth in that region.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: In August 2015 Network Rail published the outcome of the Wessex and Western Route Studies undertaken by the rail industry. This includes a review of the future demand on the line between London, Salisbury and Exeter.The Government expects to set out in July 2017 its investment plan for the railways during 2019 to 2024 and will take account of the industry proposals in developing this plan.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Greater London

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the comments by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Brandon Lewis, what assessment they have made of what matters people should take into account when making the judgment call of whether to live in London.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Where people decide to live is a matter for individuals, based on their own circumstances.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Palestinians: Education

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the right of Palestinians to education.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While we have not raised the specific issue of the right of Palestinians to education, the British Government provides financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to provide essential services, including education. Consequently UK aid will support 35,000 children through primary school over the next four years. We also consistently urge Israel to ease movement and access restrictions across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, not least because of the impact the restrictions have on children and continuity of their education.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Governmentwhat representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about those currently facing execution in Saudi Arabia.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, including Saudi Arabia. The death penalty undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. We continue to remind the Saudi authorities of our views on the death penalty at every suitable opportunity.We continue to strongly believe that we are most effective when we discuss human rights privately in some countries. This is the approach we are following in light of claims that Saudi Arabia intends to execute over 50 people convicted of terrorism offences, which the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised at a senior level on 4 December.

BBC World Service

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which countries the receipt of BBC World Service programmes via the internet has been blocked in each year from 1999 to 2014.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The BBC World Service has advised that blocks via the internet occurred in the following years:1999 to present – China (BBC Chinese)1999 to 2008 – China (BBC News – English)2010 – China (BBC News – English was again blocked in December 2010 for a number of days and then lifted)2014 – China (BBC News – English was again blocked in October 2014 for two weeks)2002 – Vietnam2004 – Uzbekistan2006 to present – Iran2013 to present - Sri Lanka2014 – Rwanda

Africa: BBC World Service

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the changes in audience sizes in African countries or regions following the switch from short wave to FM transmission of BBC World Service programmes between 1999 and 2014.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The BBC World Service has advised that they make the following assessment of the changes in audience sizes in African countries or regions:Sub -Saharan Africa -Total audience across all platforms has risen from 52.7 million in 2005 to 81.8 million in 2015 (55 per cent increase).In 2005, Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 63 per cent of total audiences; by 2015 Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 39.3 per cent of total audiences.Short Wave and Medium Wave audiences in the region have dropped 3.9 per cent, while BBC’s direct FM audiences have grown by 125 per cent.Middle East and North Africa -Total audience across all platforms has risen from 15.3 million in 2005 to 48.2 million in 2015 (215 per cent increase).In 2005, Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 78 per cent of total audiences; by 2015 Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 8.5 per cent of total audiences.In this period, Short Wave and Medium Wave audiences in the region have dropped by 62 per cent, while the BBC’s direct FM audiences have dropped by 59 per cent.BBC Arabic TV reaches 30.3 million people across Middle East & North Africa.The World Service use Global Audience Measurement (GAM) data to track performance by platform and by market. This data provides clear records from 2005 onwards.

Africa: BBC World Service

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the change in the size of the audience for BBC World Service programmes broadcast via the internet in African countries or regions from 1999 to 2014.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The BBC World Service has advised that:The current weekly audience for the BBC on the Internet in sub Saharan Africa has grown from 520,000 in 2006 to 4.3 million (726 per cent increase).The current weekly audience for the BBC on the Internet in the Middle East and North Africa grew from 530,000 in 2006 to 2.2 million (315 per cent increase).The World Service use Global Audience Measurement (GAM) data to track performance by platform and by market. This data provides clear records from 2005 onwards.

Human Rights

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government with which countries they have raised human rights since May.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government frequently raises issues with international partners. In addition to bilateral dialogues where we raise our concerns in person, we also set out our approach and priorities in the Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. The next report, due to be published in April 2016, will describe our work to tackle human rights challenges in approximately 30 priority countries. These countries will provide a focus for our human rights and democracy project funding in the next financial year. We also regularly raise human rights issues in multilateral fora, for example the UN Human Rights Council and at the Council of Europe.

Cyprus: Arms Trade

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they were consulted and informed about the US decision to lift its arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus, and by whom; how and when that decision is to be implemented; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that decision on the current Cyprus talks process.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We understand that, contrary to media reports in Cyprus, the United States (US) government has not decided to lift its International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions on its defence trade with the Republic of Cyprus. The US has amended Section 1276 of its National Defence Authorisation Act so that the US Departments of State and Defence are required to submit a report to Congress assessing the US-Cyprus security relationship, including the impact of US trade constraints on defence-related goods and services to the island. This does not affect the US ITAR restrictions on defence trade with the Republic of Cyprus.

Turkey: Homicide

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making representations to the government of Turkey about the murder of Tahir Elci and the attempted murder of Selahattin Demirtaş; and whether they will place any response in the Libraries of both Houses.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Mr Elçi’s murder is a tragic case. While the facts are not yet known, this illustrates the need for the peace process to be resumed and an end to violence from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Our Ambassador in Ankara has publicly expressed his shock and sadness at Mr Elçi’s murder, and passed condolences to the families of the policemen also killed in these clashes. We understand that the Turkish authorities have completed an initial investigation into reports of an attack on Mr Demirtaş and that a fuller investigation is ongoing.

Commonwealth: Counter-terrorism

Lord Rana: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to spend the £5 million pledged for the development of the new Commonwealth counter-extremism unit.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), announced UK funding of £5million over 5 years to establish a Counter-Extremism and Counter Radicalisation Unit in the Commonwealth Secretariat. Setting up a new unit recognises that Commonwealth countries must work together to counter extremist ideologies and build their counter extremism capabilities. The unit will:•Provide technical assistance to governments developing counter-extremism strategies.•Mobilise Commonwealth civil society networks to counter radicalisation through targeted counter-narratives and strategic communication training.•Enable Commonwealth members to meet their international counter extremism obligations. There is a demand from Commonwealth countries for support in implementing international counter extremism obligations, for example in relation to UN Security Council Resolution 2178.Other Commonwealth partners have also pledged a contribution to this unit. We will work closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth members and key stakeholders to ensure that UK funding supports the work of countries across the Commonwealth to tackle the threat of extremism

Commonwealth: Counter-terrorism

Lord Rana: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action the new Commonwealth counter-extremism unit will take to tackle extremism.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are committed to tackling extremism and radicalisation. A number of Commonwealth countries face significant challenges. The Commonwealth Secretariat has done some work in this area but additional capacity is required to coordinate the sharing of expertise and support efforts to counter the causes of radicalisation. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), announced UK funding of £5m over 5 years to establish a Counter-Extremism and Counter Radicalisation Unit in the Commonwealth Secretariat. Setting up a new unit recognises that Commonwealth countries must work together to counter extremist ideologies and build their counter extremism capabilities. The unit will:•Provide technical assistance to governments developing counter-extremism strategies.•Mobilise Commonwealth civil society networks to counter radicalisation through targeted counter-narratives and strategic communication training.•Enable Commonwealth members to meet their international counter extremism obligations. There is a demand from Commonwealth countries for support in implementing international counter extremism obligations (e.g. in relation to UNSCR 2178.).We will work closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth members and key stakeholders to ensure that UK funding supports the work of countries across the Commonwealth to tackle the threat of extremism.

Syria: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define "moderate" in the context of opposition in Syria.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The moderate opposition in Syria, the majority of whom use the brand of the Free Syrian Army, call for a pluralistic political system in Syria that respects the rights of all Syrians (including minorities) and rejects terrorism and terrorist tactics. They have repeatedly condemned Islamic extremism, and have been fighting, and beating back Daesh in Syria for over two years while also protecting their communities from vicious attack from the Assad regime. They have scored significant victories in Idlib and Aleppo in Northwest Syria and in Dera’a province in the South.

Burma: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what practical assistance they are providing to Burma to help that country in its democratic transition following the elections on 8 November.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Our package of development assistance to Burma this year is £82 million and we have allocated £25 million between 2014 and 2019 specifically to strengthen democratic governance in Burma. This sum included support to elections through the provision of technical advice to the Burmese election commission, voter education and building capacity in monitoring and observation of the electoral process.Following the November elections, we will continue to engage with Burma to encourage the country along its journey of democratic reform. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), called Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 10 November to offer continued political and economic support for the people of Burma. We will of course keep in close contact on a range of topics and look forward to working with the new administration, which takes office in March 2016.

Burma: Politics and Government

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of political progress in Myanmar.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Burma has made remarkable progress since beginning the reform process in 2011. The elections on 8 November were an important milestone in Burma’s transition to democracy, and we welcome the conduct of the process, which observers have characterised as well-managed, orderly and peaceful. However, the transition is not yet complete and the incoming administration will face many serious challenges. Of particular importance will be to build a sustainable and comprehensive peace with all groups in Burma and address human rights violations, most urgently those committed against the Muslim Rohingya community in Rakhine State.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by Save the Children Nowhere safe for Yemen’s children: The deadly impact of explosive weapons in Yemen.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are very concerned by reports of any civilian casualties as a result of the ongoing fighting in Yemen. A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and protect Yemen’s children, their families and communities. The UK is actively supporting the UN’s efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire and a return to the political transition in Yemen. The UK is providing £75 million to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which includes funding to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Save the Children, and the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) to provide specific support to children on protection, malnutrition, health, water and sanitation.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations by Save the Children in its report Nowhere safe for Yemen’s children: The deadly impact of explosive weapons in Yemen, particularly regarding the enhanced protection of children, their families and communities, and the steps that should be taken by the UK to press all parties to the conflict to agree an immediate ceasefire and stop the use of explosive weapons.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are very concerned by reports of any civilian casualties as a result of the ongoing fighting in Yemen. A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and protect Yemen’s children, their families and communities. The UK is actively supporting the UN’s efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire and a return to the political transition in Yemen.We have regularly raised our concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities and received assurances that they are complying with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We continue to engage with Saudi Arabia on those assurances and have offered advice and training to demonstrate best practice and to help ensure continued compliance with IHL.We are also concerned by reports of alleged IHL violations by Houthi-Saleh and pro-government forces, including attacks on civilians in Aden and Taiz; intimidation of UN ships attempting to dock at Aden; the use of schools and hospitals for military purposes; the use of child soldiers; and the targeting of aid workers and restrictions on humanitarian access. We have also raised our concerns with the Houthis on the importance of compliance with IHL and international human rights law.

Yemen: Arms Trade

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to the call by Save the Children for the UK to stop selling arms to any party involved in the conflict in Yemen while there is a risk that they might be used to violate international humanitarian or human rights law.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Yemen by the Coalition, including alleged airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, and take these very seriously. We have regularly raised our concerns with the Saudi-Arabian authorities and received assurances that they are complying with IHL. We continue to engage with Saudi Arabia on those assurances and have offered advice and training to demonstrate best practice and to help ensure continued compliance with IHL.The UK operates one of the most rigorous and transparent export control regimes in the world. All exports of arms and controlled military goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing criteria, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application. Risks around human rights violations are a key part of our assessment against the Consolidated Criteria. A licence will not be issued, for any country, if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the UK Licensing Criteria, including where we assess there is a clear risk that it might be used in the commission of a serious violation of IHL.

Syria: Politics and Government

Lord Dobbs: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the political objectives of the Free Syrian Army.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Free Syrian Army is a collective term used by a range of moderate opposition groups in Syria who are fighting the regime and Daesh. The Free Syrian Army are fighting to change the regime in Syria; they call for a pluralistic system that respects the rights of all Syrians. They reject terrorism and terrorist tactics, and have condemned Islamic extremism. They have been fighting both the regime and Daesh in Syria for over two years with success in a number of areas, in particular in Idlib and Aleppo in Northwest Syria and in Dera'a Province in the South.

Turkey: Kurds

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Turkey about the use of curfews, martial law, and the deployment of the military in mainly Kurdish towns, including Cizre and Silvan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We welcome the visit on 15-16 October of Turkey’s national human rights body to Cizre and Sirnak to conduct analysis and research on the recent events there.We continue to monitor the human rights situation in Turkey closely and raise concerns regularly with the Turkish authorities.

Turkey: Kurds

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that since July Turkey has hit PKK targets in northern Iraq more frequently than ISIS targets; (2) that Turkish police have arrested more members of the Kurdish political opposition than suspected ISIS members within Turkey; and (3) that Turkey is shelling Kobane, despite it being under the control of Kurdish forces who are cooperating with the coalition against ISIS.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) continues to kill Turkish police and security forces. The PKK must cease its violence and the peace process needs to be resumed. We support Turkey’s right to defend itself against all forms of terrorism.We welcome Turkey’s invaluable contribution to the international campaign against Daesh, particularly its agreement for the use of its airspace and airbases, as a member of the Global Coalition committed to defeating it. Turkey has been carrying out strikes against Daesh since July 2015, and have detained over 2,500 Daesh suspects since 2013, of whom one third are foreigners. Turkey recognises the role that Syrian Kurds have to play in the fight against Daesh, and accepts that Syrian Kurds receive Coalition support.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings by Save the Children (1) that Yemen is the country (a) with the highest number of people in humanitarian need, and (b) with the highest number of casualties owing to explosive weapons; and (2) that at least three children are killed each day in Yemen.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The humanitarian situation in Yemen is now one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 80 per cent of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN declared Yemen a Level three crisis on 1 July, a category reserved for the most serious and complex crises (others are Syria, Iraq & South Sudan). Humanitarian needs remain significant across all sectors. According to the UN, 7.6 million are facing severe food shortages and 2.1 million people are malnourished, including 320,000 children who are severely malnourished. 2.3 million Yemenis are internally displaced. The UK is the 4th largest donor to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen (providing £75 million, including funding to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Save the Children, and the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) to provide specific support to children on protection, malnutrition, health, water and sanitation).In compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), no weapon should be used indiscriminately, disproportionately, or to deliberately target civilians and civilian objects. We therefore continue to urge all parties to the conflict to act in compliance with IHL and to conduct open and transparent investigations into all incidents where it is alleged that IHL has been breached.We remain extremely concerned by civilian casualties as a result of the conflict. A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and we are supporting the UN’s efforts through diplomatic channels to achieve a ceasefire and return to an inclusive political process, including through the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), our ambassadors, and the UK Special Envoy to Yemen, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Sir Alan Duncan).

Syria: Peace Negotiations

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when further peace talks in Vienna on Syria will take place.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The next meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) will take place before Christmas. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), will represent the UK. The ISSG agreed in Vienna on 14 November 2015 on the need “to convene Syrian government and opposition representatives in formal negotiations under UN auspices, as soon as possible, with a target date of January 1.”

Attorney General

Syria: Military Intervention

Lord Morris of Aberavon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Attorney General has approved the rules of engagement for the RAF bombing of Syria, and whether he will be consulted regularly to ensure that such military action is carried out in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

Lord Keen of Elie: As the Prime Minister has repeatedly made clear, in carrying out any military action in Syria, the Government will at all times act in accordance with the law.In line with the longstanding Law Officers’ Convention, reflected in both the Cabinet Manual and the Ministerial Code, I am unable to provide specific details as to the role of the Attorney General in this matter.

Department for International Development

Syria: International Assistance

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Syria Donors Conference in London in February 2016 will address issues surrounding sexual violence in conflict.

Baroness Verma: The London Conference for Syria and the region will mark a qualitative shift in the way the international community responds to this protracted crisis - addressing both immediate and longer-term needs, particularly on jobs and education. The Conference will also focus on the protection of civilians from harm, including sexual and gender-based violence.

Overseas Aid

Lord Donoughue: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the £361,446,114 spent on DfID's Programme Partnership Arrangements in the 2011–14 round was spent: (1) overseas, and (2) on UK staff and advocacy efforts in the UK

Baroness Verma: DFID does not hold details of the proportion of funding spent through the Programme Partnership Arrangements (PPAs) overseas and on UK staff. PPAs are not used for any campaigning or advocacy efforts in the UK.The PPAs are strategic level arrangements with Civil Society Organisations based around mutually agreed outcomes. Organisations have individual performance frameworks against which they formally report against on an annual basis. Funding is flexible and not tied to specific interventions or initiatives.

Overseas Aid

Lord Donoughue: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the average proportion of spending on DfID's Programme Partnership Arrangements was on salaries for UK staff and advocacy work in the UK, broken down by the charities receiving that funding.

Baroness Verma: DFID does not hold details of the average proportion of spending through the Programme Partnership Arrangements (PPAs) on salaries for UK staff.PPAs are not used for any campaigning or advocacy efforts in the UK.The PPAs are strategic level arrangements with Civil Society Organisations based around mutually agreed outcomes. Organisations have individual performance frameworks against which they formally report against on an annual basis. Funding is flexible and not tied to specific interventions or initiatives.

Overseas Aid

Lord Donoughue: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the overall cost was of the 2014–16 extension to the 2011–14 round of DfID's Programme Partnership Arrangements.

Baroness Verma: The total cost of the 2014-16 extension to DFID’s Programme Partnership Arrangements was £240,000,074.

Overseas Aid

Lord Donoughue: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of DfID's Programme Partnership Arrangements funding was spent by recipients on environmental and climate-related projects.

Baroness Verma: DFID does not hold details of the proportion of funding spent through the Programme Partnership Arrangements (PPAs) on environmental and climate-related projects.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the levels of bilateral and multilateral HIV donor funding from governments of EU member states, and what more they will do to ensure that EU member states increase their HIV donor funding.

Baroness Verma: The UK government supports UNAIDS’ call for shared responsibility and global solidarity in the fight against AIDS. We strongly believe donors should commit according to their ability to contribute. UNAIDS’ has published an assessment of donor contributions to the AIDS response compared with their share of the global economy (this is available, as part of their 2016-21 Strategy, on the UNAIDS website). We are proud to be the second largest international funder of HIV prevention, treatment and care. We encourage countries to contribute their share, including EU Member States. The UK uses fora such as the UNAIDS and Global Fund board meetings to urge them to step up and do their part for the HIV epidemic.

Department for Education

Schools: Finance

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether governors of maintained schools are allowed to agree a budget deficit.

Lord Nash: Governors are responsible for agreeing the budget of a school under the arrangements set out in their Local Authority’s Scheme for Financing Schools, which may preclude any planning for deficits; or it may allow schools to plan for deficits only in certain approved circumstances.



Scheme for Financing Schools
(PDF Document, 378.64 KB)

Schools: Aldgate

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 8 December (HL3697), what is the name of the new school; whether that school is a free school; and what involvement, if any, the New Schools Network had in founding that school.

Lord Nash: We cannot yet confirm which school the Commercial Road site will be developed for as the latest wave of applications is currently being assessed. Whether the entire site will be used will depend on the type of school approved.

Ministry of Justice

Reoffenders

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many offenders committed additional offences while on early release in each of the last five years.

Lord Faulks: The number of recalls of prisoners released under the Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme is published on the government website.Table A3.5: Home Detention Curfew recalls by reason, and sex2002200320042005200620072008200920102011(1)201220132014Males and Females1,4792,7163,0032,6272,1841,6541,4421,441-1,3631,202895842Breach of curfew conditions---------789836690601Curfew absence---------592594511453Equipment tamper---------135181134105Failed induction---------59574442Threats to monitoring officer---------3411Inability to monitor---------129994749Breach of non-curfew conditions---------443265157184Out of touch---------4421400Fail to reside---------41232623Poor behaviour---------98752824Further charge---------26014699137Other/Unspecified reason---------2211Multiple reasons------------7(1) Due to changes in recording practices in 2011 some HDC r+A1:N70ecalls were, for statistical purposes only, not correctly identified between 2011 and 2013. For this edition of OMSQ we have changed the data source used for HDC recalls to the Public Protection Unit Database which will ensure that recalls during the HDC period are now properly identified. Consequently, figures from 2011 onwards have been revised and are now taken from this new data source resulting in a break in series from 2011. Figures for 2010 are not available.

Prisoners on Remand: Females

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women were on remand in (1) each prison, and (2) each bail hostel, in England and Wales in each month for the past three years.

Lord Faulks: Table 1 sets out the number of women on remand in each prison in England and Wales at the end of each month for the three years until September 2015, the date of the latest available data.Table 1: Female remand prison population in England and Wales, September 2012 - September 2015, by establishmentEstablishmentDateAllBronzefieldDrake HallDownviewEastwood ParkFoston HallHollowaySep-126951500*10653142Oct-126581620*8651137Nov-12619141009158123Dec-12565136008241103Jan-13611135009949100Feb-1361913300974393Mar-136031280*953991Apr-13621124**9447101May-13597111*09857102Jun-1360110700966294Jul-136191240*8762102Aug-13607110008657111Sep-136651260010271109Oct-136871290011276113Nov-13659970010780109Dec-13635119008575103Jan-14675118009562130Feb-14690125008961132Mar-14715127009149130Apr-14707117008747132May-14706121009658127Jun-14694111008552124Jul-14698121009158118Aug-14685118008958115Sep-14706144009953106Oct-14671127009357111Nov-146741230010359112Dec-14639103009952123Jan-156261210*8455122Feb-156301260*7156133Mar-156371200*6660135Apr-156311400*7060112May-156451300*7257117Jun-156261250*7056105Jul-156371190*7159108Aug-156651260*7266108Sep-156331280*7157112EstablishmentDateHollowayLow NewtonNew HallPeterboroughSendStyalSep-12142445567*75Oct-12137424562*70Nov-12123424460060Dec-12103314560067Jan-13100414164082Feb-1393454869091Mar-1391384272*97Apr-13101504564*93May-13102444368*72Jun-1394304968095Jul-13102395468*82Aug-13111385366086Sep-13109355079093Oct-13113315581090Nov-13109355584092Dec-13103325478089Jan-14130346182093Feb-141323759820105Mar-141304666920114Apr-141324466930121May-141274173830107Jun-141245675760115Jul-141185762770114Aug-141154762760120Sep-141064164830116Oct-141112656910110Nov-141122960870101Dec-141233153720106Jan-15122345167*91Feb-15133404468*91Mar-15135414871*95Apr-15112454967*87May-15117475470*97Jun-15105404676*107Jul-15108474187*104Aug-15108444787*114Sep-15112404682*96Data sources and qualityThe figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.An asterix (*) has been used to denote where there 5 or fewer prisoners. This is to prevent the disclosure of individual information. Further disclosure control may be completed where this alone is not sufficient.Table 2 details the number of women on bail in Bail Accommodation and Support Service (BASS) properties and the total number of women who have been resident in Approved Premises (APs) accommodation, for each month of the last three years. A breakdown for each bail property could only be provided at disproportionate cost.Table 2: Women on bail in a BASS property or resident in an Approved Premises - October 2012 to November 2015BASS accommodationApproved PremisesNov 2012288Dec 2012318Jan 201325*Feb 2013256Mar 2013268Apr 201325*May 2013279Jun 2013327Jul 201329*Aug 201334*Sep 201337*Oct 201335*Nov 201334*Dec 201333*Jan 20142914Feb 201425*Mar 201430*Apr 201423*May 201427*Jun 201424*Jul 201429*Aug 2014317Sep 201422*Oct 201425*Nov 201438*Dec 201438*Jan 201536*Feb 201536*Mar 201534*Apr 201530*May 201530*Jun 201526*Jul 201528*Aug 201526*Sep 201523*Oct 201523*Nov 201522(1) An asterix (*) has been used to denote where there 5 or fewer prisoners. This is to prevent the disclosure of individual information. Further disclosure control may be completed where this alone is not sufficient.(2) The BASS caseload data is a snapshot taken on the first day of each month. AP data is for those women who are resident at the end of each month. It is therefore possible that some women may have arrived and left during a month and would therefore not be counted.(3) AP data is reported a month in arrears and is therefore not yet available for November 2015.(4) These figures are drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. You will also note that is has not been possible to provide data where this relates to 5 or fewer women, as this may enable the identification of individuals.BASS offers shared private rented accommodation in the community for male and female defendants on bail and for offenders released on Home Detention Curfew (HDC). It does not take anyone accused of violent or sexual offending. APs provide enhanced supervision, particularly of high risk of harm offenders, to ensure compliance with their licence conditions. They mainly accommodate offenders released from custody, although they are available for defendants who cannot be bailed to their own addresses (or are being assessed for bail). APs are staffed 24 hours a day and the average size of a women’s AP is 19 beds.

Magistrates

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what efforts they have made to promote diversity in the composition of the lay magistracy, by reference to (1) socio-economic status, (2) ethnicity, (3) gender, and (4) age.

Lord Faulks: The government is committed to promoting the diversity of all members of the judiciary, including a diverse magistracy which reflects the society it serves. The local advisory committees who are responsible for recruiting and selecting magistrates, target recruitment activity to ensure that while we appoint on merit, local benches are representative of the communities they serve. This includes seeking applications from previously underrepresented groups.As of April 2015, 53% of serving magistrates were female and 9% from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. Data on recent appointments has continued to show encouraging signs and suggests diversity will continue to improve in the future.

Magistrates

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the breakdown of the lay magistracy according to the occupational groups with which applicants are required to identify themselves.

Lord Faulks: The requested information is no longer recorded.

Ministry of Defence

Tornado Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Tornado GR4-trained navigators there are in the RAF.

Earl Howe: There are 190 Tornado GR4 trained navigators in the Royal Air Force.

Tornado Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average age of Tornado GR4-trained navigators in the RAF.

Earl Howe: The average age of Tornado GR4 trained navigators in the Royal Air Force is 41 years and three months.

Tornado Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the last RAF Tornado GR4 navigator completed their training.

Earl Howe: Tornado GR4 Weapons Systems Officers (navigators) continue to be trained until the projected completion of the final course in March 2017.

Department for Work and Pensions

Children

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a policy about the number of children a family or individual should have; and if so, what it is.

Baroness Altmann: The Government does not have a policy on the number of children a family or individual should have.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Timber

Lord Fearn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which British woods are grown for timber use, if any.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Forestry is a devolved issue, so the answer relates to England only.Many English woods are grown for timber amongst other uses, including oak and cherry. 2.6 million tonnes of English wood was delivered to primary wood processors and others in 2014. This is a 3% increase from the previous year. Active management of English woodlands at September 2015 was reported to be at 58%, up from 53% in 2013.This is why this Government strongly supports the work of the Grown in Britain initiative. Its work in support of the woodland economy has helped to grow a £2bn a year forestry and wood processing industry, which employs over 40,000 people.

Home Office

Visas

Lord Crisp: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the current visa categories and visa application processes in line with their Britain is GREAT campaign, which "welcomes the world to visit, study and do business with the UK".

Lord Bates: We keep all categories of entry and the application process under regular review. The Home Office recently concluded a wide ranging review and consultation that led to the changes to the Immigration Rules for visitors in April this year. The changes included consolidation and simplification of all visitor categories from fifteen into four routes to provide flexibility on the activities a visitor can do, as well as some expansion of the permitted activities. These included business related activities such as participating in or running training courses, meetings and conferences.Under the Immigration Rules visitors are allowed to teach one-off classroom sessions in the UK without pay and their sponsors are welcome to provide funding for flights and accommodation.More details on what people can do when visiting the UK and how to apply can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa and the detailed Immigration Rules for Visitors can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules



Immigration Rules for visitors
(PDF Document, 389.36 KB)

Visas

Lord Crisp: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to revise current visa categories to allow non-EU professionals and experts, in particular those in the health and science sectors, to teach one-off classroom sessions in the UK without pay, but receiving funding for their flights and accommodation, without the need for a work permit.

Lord Bates: We keep all categories of entry and the application process under regular review. The Home Office recently concluded a wide ranging review and consultation that led to the changes to the Immigration Rules for visitors in April this year. The changes included consolidation and simplification of all visitor categories from fifteen into four routes to provide flexibility on the activities a visitor can do, as well as some expansion of the permitted activities. These included business related activities such as participating in or running training courses, meetings and conferences.Under the Immigration Rules visitors are allowed to teach one-off classroom sessions in the UK without pay and their sponsors are welcome to provide funding for flights and accommodation.More details on what people can do when visiting the UK and how to apply can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa and the detailed Immigration Rules for Visitors can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules



Immigration Rules for Visitors
(PDF Document, 389.36 KB)

HM Treasury

Revenue and Customs: Yorkshire and the Humber

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have chosen to consolidate HMRC offices across Yorkshire in Leeds, in the light of property costs and levels of competition for skilled workforce in that city, compared with other cities in the region.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced the planned locations of its future Regional Centres based on a number of key principles that will enable it to deliver more for less. In addition to cost, these include quality of local transport links, the local labour market and future workforce supply, and the need to retain the staff and skills it needs to continue its transformation.HMRC is committing to Yorkshire and the Humber by creating a new Regional Centre in Leeds. HMRC’s assessment is that Leeds is a better choice in terms of the location principles, particularly the quality of transport links and the ability of its staff to commute to a future site.Overall, the regional transformation programme will reduce HMRC’s estate’s costs by around £100 million a year by 2025.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Nuclear Power Stations: Radiation

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 25 November (HL3610), whether UK nuclear power plants are required to report to ONS hourly or half-hourly radioactive gaseous emissions.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Office for National Statistics has no role in respect of gathering statistics on radioactive gaseous emissions.

Nuclear Power Stations: Radiation

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 25 November (HL3609), whether they plan to require nuclear power plants to collect and publish hourly or half-hourly radioactive emissions statistics, and if not, why not.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Current UK legislation requires nuclear power plants in England to limit their radioactive gaseous emissions to within safe levels. Similar legislation is in place in Wales and Scotland. The UK and territorial environmental agencies are responsible for implementing this legislation, which includes setting specific emissions limits and monitoring and reporting requirements for individual plants.The regulators have powers to vary these requirements, including the scope and frequency of emissions monitoring and reporting, as they deem necessary for the purpose of verifying each plant’s compliance with its permitted emissions limits. The regulators also have powers to take robust enforcement action in respect of any breach in compliance.The Government is satisfied that current legislation provides for effective control and monitoring of radioactive gaseous emissions and is content that the regulatory bodies should continue to mandate emissions monitoring and reporting requirements on a plant by plant basis.

Cabinet Office

Travel: Europe

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the estimated total of inward and outward journeys between the UK and the European continent, in 1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2014.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



Referral Answers
(PDF Document, 447.03 KB)

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Public Libraries

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what statutory duties local authorities have to provide library and library-related services.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 places a duty on local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. It is for individual local authorities to determine how best to provide this.

Department of Health

Cancer

Lord Freyberg: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) how much (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) Sweden, (e) the Netherlands, (f) France, (g) Denmark, (h) Belgium, and (i) Italy, spent per capita on cancer services, and (2) the national one-year cancer survival rates as a percentage of new patients for each of those countries, for the most recent year for which comparable data is available.

Lord Prior of Brampton: We are not aware of any comparable international data on per capita spending for cancer services. The National Audit Office estimated that the cost of cancer services to the National Health Service in 2012-13 was £6.7 billion, although precise figures are not available.The Eurocare-5 study, published in 2014, compares cancer survival rates across Europe, and includes all patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2007. These are the most recent available comparable data for the countries requested. Therefore, these comparisons are not a measure of current NHS performance and practice, but should be regarded as a long-term benchmark.Age-standardised, one-year, all-cancer survival rates for the requested countries are as follows:Country Age-standardised rate, one-year all-cancer survival (95% Confidence Interval) for patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2007England 67.6 (67.5-67.7)Scotland 67.5 (67.3-67.7)Wales 66.3 (66.0-66.6)Sweden 75.1 (75.0-75.3)Netherlands 71.9 (71.8-72.0)France 75.1 (74.9-75.4)Denmark 69.2 (69.0-69.4)Belgium 76.4 (76.3-76.6)Italy 75.2 (75.1-75.3)Source: Baili, P., et al. (2015). "Age and case mix-standardised survival for all cancer patients in Europe 1999–2007: Results of EUROCARE-5, a population-based study." European Journal of Cancer 51(15): 2120-2129.

Health Professions: Training

Lord MacKenzie of Culkein: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received advice from the Council of Deans of Health about the future funding of nursing and midwifery students.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Department of Health (DH) received joint correspondence from the Council of Deans of Health and Universities UK about a number of issues relating to healthcare education funding in England.The Council of Deans of Health and Universities UK also wrote a joint letter to DH and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Ministers on 7 August 2015 requesting a meeting to discuss a redesigned system. DH and BIS Ministers agreed to a joint meeting, which took place on the 2 December.